Concept Artist - Stellaris
Job Description
At Paradox Development Studio, we create world-leading grand strategy games that players spend hundreds of hours exploring. Our artists shape the visual identity of those worlds and ensure they feel cohesive, believable, and inspiring.
We are now looking for a Concept Artist to join the Stellaris team in Stockholm.
About the role:
As a Concept Artist on Stellaris, you will be part of a nine-person art team, working closely with artists, designers, and other developers. You will report to the Art Manager and contribute directly to the visual development of the game.
Your primary focus will be concepting spaceships and designing characters, from early ideation to production-ready concepts and in-game assets. You will also create event illustrations and larger artworks that help define the tone and narrative of the Stellaris universe.
You are expected to work through a strong and structured creative process, including research, reference gathering, thumbnailing, iteration, and refinement. You will help maintain and evolve the established art style while contributing new ideas that strengthen the visual identity of the game.
The role also includes contributing to style guide development, estimating tasks, participating in art reviews, and collaborating closely with the team to ensure visual consistency and quality.
What we’re looking for
- Experience creating concept art and illustrations for in-game use
- Strong understanding of 2D art fundamentals such as composition, lighting, color, material definition, and form
- Ability to translate gameplay and narrative requirements into clear visual designs
- A structured workflow, from research and exploration to final presentation
- Ability to work within an established art direction while maintaining consistency and quality
- Comfortable giving and receiving feedback in a constructive and professional manner
- Clear communication skills and the ability to explain visual decisions
Nice to haves
- A passion for science fiction
- Interest in strategy games, especially Stellaris
- Familiarity with Paradox titles or RTS games
- Strong traditional drawing skills
- Experience working with UI Art
- Experience with tools such as ZBrush, Blender, Maya, SketchUp, KeyShot, Octane, or 3D Coat
We are looking for someone who enjoys working in a collaborative team where feedback is open and respectful. You take ownership of your work, care about quality, and are motivated by seeing players around the world engage with what you create.
Please include a portfolio showcasing relevant concept art work. We are especially interested in seeing examples of sci-fi design, hard surface work, character design, and production-ready sheets.
This is an onsite role based in Stockholm. We work from the office five days a week, with flexibility when needed.